Locking means for automobiles and the like



Oct. 13,1925- 1,556,588

E. A. CHRISTQPH LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec.12, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mun Oct. 15,1925. 1,556,588

E. A. CHRISTQPH LOCKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE F iled Dec.12, 1921 3 Sheets-Shoat 2 A275. 4 24 3 21 2 5-151 I I r 3 &

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UNIT En mm. A. cnms'rorn ror emcee-o, rumors.

L'ooxmomsnns won nuwononmns 1 AND mm: LIKE.

'Applicat'ionfiledwnecember 12,=1 92l.s swarm: :521 636; I

To .aZlwibom .c't concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL A. .Cnnrsrorrr, a citizen ofthe, UnitedStates,=-res11d-1ng at.

Chicago, :inrthe county of-Cookland State of Illinois,-.l 1ave' inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in ILocking Means; for

Automobiles and the-like,;-o-f which thQyfOl, lowing i'sua full, clear,concise,-. and exact description,- reference beingihad-to. the accompanying 1 drawings, forming 15a; partof this specification. 7

My -,invention, relates.- to, theft preventing means for preventing theunauthorized use of motor vehicles and more particularly to an improvedlocking mechanism for rendere ing the; steering gear inoperative sothat! it cannot ibeiused to control the-direction of movementof the:vehicle.

In contradistinction to locking an automobile; for example} so" that I1t: cannot be moved, various arrangements for lockingi the.

car so that it; can be movedw but not put to una-utholized 'use havecome into use asithey permit the car to be rolledta short dist-ancebyhand 'OInQVBIl .towedaway tiny-case: of fire or :othernecessity forclearing the; spacewhere the owner *hasdeit :the ;veh'ic1e.-- In: manylarge cities, locki-ng awehicle o thfltz it cannot be movedisprohibited-bylaw-in; addition to being inadvi sa-blea To preventunauthorized use-and at; the-same. tirne-vpermit such-movement,arrangement-shave been, providedfor rendering-the steering; gear in-:

operative :in two ways, first 'byjlockingathe steering shaft or postagainst 'operat/iomwand 1 second by disconnecting the steering wheel 50that itcannot'be usedtocontrol the direc-;

tion'of movementof the car My invention belongs :to a the -latter classalthough certainaspects of the invention are notrto beso limited but arecapable of Widerand more general use. 7

It is-an ob ect'of my IRVBlltlOlhtO-IHCPGSSG the: security; enhance thetime of devices 50f this sort. To this iendvI have provided an cimproved mechanical construction, arrangement of parts and:

assembly.

Another object of my invention ,isthe, provision of a blocking.;mechanismi adapted tfOI" ready association Withivarious steeringgcav.arrangements gnovvr in use;-which-docking mechanism will: consist offew; and: simple durability, strengthen and otherwise :improve thestrum-- parts, which may. be readilyl assembled and. installsdyand whenvunlocked-readily re-- moved, but which, when; locked, not onlypositively prevent-s operation of the steering geaiybutiisso-arrangedthat it cannot bore-- moved orrendered inoperativezoraccessgain to anyparts through which steering of thevehiclelcouldbeeifected. T'o'this end,.

I provide for -.ren.de'ring when :the, locking mechanism is locked,removal; of the cover or other part Lthrou h which access to theFurt-herobjectsand advanta es of my in;

vention will appear from the ollowing (ls-- tailedrdesonpt 'on and theclaims taken with an inspection of: the accoinpanyingidrmvings1nconnectmn withwwhich :I shalinmv de= scribe-a particular;embodimentio'f the inven tion and mannerot its use:

In the drawings:

Figured is aztop planw-iewof asteering wheeland; post; illustrating 1the. application of an, embodiment of my invention V thereto Figure 2:is a side elevational-. viewof the same I Figure is -a reducedtransverse. section taken on the line 3i-30f Figure 5;

Figure '4 is atnansverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line i-40f 1F ig-- une 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged'axial section taken substantially on thedine5+-5 ofFigu're 1;

Figure-His a; view similamto Figure 5 showing; the tumbler actuating 1member and associated parts in elevation;

Figulex'? is -'a front elevationalav-iew ofthe tumbler aaotua-tingmember :asit WOUldlook-flattened out in:the same plane.

F1gure-8 is axfront elevationml view of one of the tumblers-or."locking. bolts em played Figure 9 is a 'horizontal cross-sectionalvievvwtakenwon the-line 9-'-9 of Figure 8; F lgllre' :10 us 1111-;enlarged. sectional view through the :hub of the steering #wheel sub--stantiallyon the: line 10:10vof Figure 1';

' well known make.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1111 ofFigure 3;

Figure 12. is an isometric view-of the sleeve member which is mountedupon the steering post or shaft; and

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1313 ofFigure 5.

With reference now to the drawings, the particular steering gear inconnection with which I have selected to illustrate my inventioncomprises a gear case or compartment 1 provided with internal teeth-2with which the steering gear or planet pinions 3 mesh. The internallytoothed casing 1 is secured to the steering column 4. The planet pinions3 are carried by a spider-like plate 5 secured to the upper end of thesteering post 6. The planet pinions 3 mesh with a centrally arrangeddrive pinion 7 secured upon the lower end of a short shaft 8 so thatupon rotation of the shaft 8 the pinions 3 are turned and the plate 5and post or shaft '6 carrying the same is rotated to steer the vehicleas desired. The particular arrangement so far described is generally ofthe type now used on an automobile of The details of the steering gear,per se, are immaterial in so far as th essence of my invention isconcerned. For example, the locking mechanism of my invention is notlimited. to use with a steering gear employing the planet pinion andinternal gear arrangement described but is adapted for association withthe various steering gears now in use. Such structural changes as arenecessary in adapting the device to the different steering gears arecontemplated within the scope of this invention. I

The locking mechanism to which my invention is especially directedcomprises a sleeve member keyed upon that portion of the shaft 8projecting upwardly from the cover 9 which closes off the upper end ofthe casing 1. The lower end of the sleeve 10 terminates in a radialflange 11, the outer upper edge of which flange 11 is reduced, as shownat 12, to receive suitable bearing members 13 arranged between it and anannular surface 14 which terminates a counter bore 16 in the lower endof the collar 15. The radial flange 11 of the sleeve 10 fits into thecounter bore 16 upon arrangement of the collar 15 upon the sleeve 10.The upper end of the collar 15 is counterbored and internally threadedas shown at 17 for the reception of a suitable cover plate 18. Aninternal annular channel or groove 28 between the counterbored portions16 and 17 of the collar 15 terminates at its lower end in a radiallyextending flange 19 and at its upper end in a radially extending annularflange 20. The sleeve 10 extends up through an opening in the flangedportion 19 and terminates at its upper end in a reduced portion 21 whichextends into an opening or bore formed in the flange to receive thesame.

An end nut 22 threaded upon the upper reduced end of the shaft 8 isprovided with a head between which and a recess 23 in the upper surface24 in which the lower end of the internally threaded counter bore 17terminates, suitable bearing members 25 are arranged. The bearings 13and 25 take up any radial or end thrusts along the shaft 8 and providefree movement of the collar 15 about the sleeve 10 so that when thecollar is disconnected from the sleeve as will be hereinafter more fullypointed out, it will be impossible to rotate the sleeve 10 through thecollar as by exerting pressure to cause frictional engagementtherebetween. The end nut 22 is provided with a slot 27 adapted toreceive a suitable tool for screwing the nut up into the desiredposition and for removing the same. The proper adjustment of thebearings 13 and 25 is secured through the end nut 22 which nut alsomaintains the proper assembly of the various parts. V

The collar 15 is provided with openings 30 which extend axially from theface 24 through the internal radially extending portion to the face 14at diametrically opposite points. A locking tumbler or bolt 31 isarranged for axial or longitudinal movement in each of the diametricallyopposite openings 30. The opposite faces of the tumbler pins 31 arescarfed or cut out as shown at 32 to provide oppositely pointed tumbleractuating member engaging edges 33 between which the projecting arms ofthe tumbler actuating member 34L operate. The tumbler actuating member34 comprises a slotted central portion having a cam arm 35 declineddownwardly from one end of the upper edge thereof and a cam arm 36inclined upwardly from the opposite end of the lower edge thereof. Thistumbler actuating member 34 may be made up in a flat. piece, forexample, and then bent sufliciently to permit its insertion eitherthrough the opening through the flanged portion 19 of the collar orthrough the opening through the flanged portion 20, whereupon it isspread into annular formation within the internal annular channel 28 soas to partially encircle the sleeve 10 upon arrangement of the same inthe collar 15. The tumblers or pins 31 having been previously insertedinto the openings 30, the cam arms 35 and 36 extend through the scarfedor cut out portions 32 in the opposing faces of the tumblers.

The upper ends of the tumblers 31 are preferably finished offsubstantially square, as shown, while the lower ends are preferablytapered slightly as at 40to permit of their ready projection intorecesses or open ings .80 which extend into'rvthe flange 111 off thesleeve 110 i'from theiupper urfaeeithereof at diametrically (oppositepoints; Thefinternal 1 periphery 0f the cover or: reap plate 18 isindented at diametrically Topp'osite points to provide inwardlyiextendi' "lug portions 41, the :purpose of which wlllibehereinafterrmadevapp'arent. illhelunderfsum face ofithewsleeve 10 iscountersunk as Shown at 42 to sreceivertlieiupper end-10f tthe usualupwardly IBXtBDdlHgZhUb portion of ther-gear case-cover43. sThencentraljportionzof'the tumbler actuating member'34 is:providedwithe-a slot 44 1501- therreception' of an ie'ccentrietpin 45cprojeetinginwardly:fromathoinneraendiof the"plug or barrel 46 of' asuitableiloe'k :revolyably mounted-in the collar. member l has showniinFigure .11.- The barrel 146 r is provided with the usual rhead'e'd end46'. Elie tumblers-AS of ithe' look 46" are :adapted dor moopemtion withan upwardlylext-ending opening 50 to lock the: {plug member :or 2 barrel346 against rotation. I Thednsertionmndopenation ofthe proper :key inthe keywey opening msserv'es to retract the tumblersQSiinWnnlIyEfrom theopening 50'rso-vas to :permit rrotation of the barrel 46; ll pon-suchrotation "the itumbler actuating member moved through ithe channel-":28either to:the right ori'to theileit (Figured) through -the'=.eccentriic5Ipin' 46, depending upon z-the directionzofrotation 'of the'barrel 46.I

I Thecsteering r-wh'eel' shown-(comprises m spider which includesaplurality nffarms or spokes 6010 the router :ends of "which is secured a'rim :61. The e'rms 160 reonveigi inwardly "and' are unitedatftheiriinner e through athu'b 62iinto which theioo1lnri15 extend-s.The hub 62 is provided with X die metrically i opposite bosses (My-whichbosses extend radially inwardly into ieooper ation w ith the J peripheryof it-he' collar imember: or look casing 15; Trunnionfbolts Boer-rangedthrough thehub 62 end-radial bossesi64 and threaded at their :inner endsinto the collar member =15 serve [to jpivotally amount ZtlIQ steeringwheel upon the-coll-an or: look leasing 15. {A1 spring (pressed :plunger:7O1arnange'd.

i in a hollow boss 71 projecting fromitheihub 62 normally engages in arecess. 72 :in the collar member :15 to hold the wheel against pivotalmovement. WVhen 'it is desired to insert a key 'into the keyway-ioponing .62 1 to diseonnectithe'steering wheel z-from'the steer ing-(post: or to i connect nthe' same therewith, the h 'er piece :74iszgraspedgthe aplunger:

'wit drawn against the t'ension i of thespring 7'5 and the steeringWheel 61 swungaboutthe trunnion :bolts 65 :into :substm-* tially thes'position shown in I dotted dines in Fig; 10'. In .addition toproviding ifor Linsertionxof the key, theipivotal'imounting'o'f thesteering wheeliyields sufieiently to atake. up the road jars and.provid'es whereby the driver "or other person in ithe drivers hornpertmentimayeget "out o f the ear "with little difliculty.

While I 'have shown the hub 62 of the steeringwheeliesheingnftnon-eiredlar formation, i-su'oh formation is immaterialand maybe varied 1 iniaotual ipraotine. The partieulurrshowingxsimplyprnvides: such unovement "of the wheel ms is fneeessary to clear the keyway'iopening' The rhub r62 :mny be" circular for vit I-may he irigidlymounted,- without departing from my invention. Fur= thermore, :Icontemplate embodying the. principle :of my invention tin -steering"gear arrangements inow'zin use without changing the structure of thesteering "wheels or other arts employed. When the :pivotal mountingo'f'the wheel is emplo d',ith'e look barrel may be :airanged throng one'of'the trunnions :if so desired.

z'It will YIIOW "be apparent that with the parts in thezposition'rshowniniEi'gui-e 5 the steering wheelxfil'risieonneeted to'ithe shaft-*8 andconsequently with the T-SteeringpBSt (if the vehiele'ithrough the collar11'5, tunibler pins or "bolts 3l andiflenged 'sleeve l 0,: so that thevehicle maybew'steeredrasndesiredthrough the wheel '61. To preventunauthorized area of ithe'iear-zas upon leaving the same sinnd, theplunger 70 is' withdrawngthe iwheel fil swung-about Ythe -ibolts' 65into the lposition shown in dotted 7' lines in Figure 10 and the properinserted :to rretract the tumblers 4-8ifrbmrthieiopening '50; flrhe loek46 with its i eccentric ipin 145 is :then rotated to (move thetumhlermetuatingi member i34' to the left (Fig.1 5) "throughitheeh'amtlQ8. The '00- operation i of the 1 cam :arms' 35 Iend :36 with thedownwardly s'pointe'd engaging edges 33 of the tumblers 31 thereby movestlie fllln b-lers upwardly ifrom (the recesses or openlHgS SO HIId' lHtOthe cap or 'eover meinber 18; The wheel '61 is 'thereby cdise'onneetedifnom the steeringe haft outpost so 7 a'srtolnjtate 'lfnee thereof. hisalready pointed out 'Ithebearings 1'8nnd'25 iwhieh ere adj listed I byline ans of ithe rend inut which rnut also maintains: the zproperassembly of "the parts prevent rotation of ithessteering shaft throughftiC-- tiornlzengugement between thei'parts.

'Whemthe tumblers are-lthus projected into the-mover: member 18, theircooperation with the indented lug'like portions-41 prevents removal 'ofthe cover member, which niemher is -*provided with openings 85 forcooperation "with a wrench orother suitableitool. The steering gear-islthu's disconnected and the :l'ookmieehanism "locked agninst aecess; Byugaiminisertingthe -ky :the tumblers ma aini'he movedidown'sh-omwithin-thecover 1'8 :and into athe reoesses 80. The wheel' isthereb eoimeoted toithe steel'ing gea-r and rem ldf thetc'over l'8isiperm-it-ted forconvenient aceessitoi theiloekrmeehanismaThezirsrrangonient of the tumbler actunting member within the tumblersand the mechanical construction, arrangement of the parts and heavythief resisting structure permitted in a compact space makes for a thiefproof device. There are no spring actuated locking devices that may besprung with very little tampering, such as found in the prior art. Theparts are few and exceedingly simple and sturdy and although the exposedparts are preferably case hardened, the structure and assembly iscomparatively inexpensive.

To positively prevent access to the shaft 6 or pinions in the casing 1when the wheel shown is disconnected, I provide a sleeve 90 which may beformed of any of a number of suitable metals or alloys, such as hardenedsteel, case hardened steel, manganese steel, or the like. The upper endof the sleeve 90 is bored out as shown at 91: to receive the lower endof the collar or casing 15 which is pressed therein,

1 or the sleeve shrunk or otherwise secured thereupon against removal.The lower end of the sleeve 90 is boredout as shown at 92 to fit downover or embrace the gear case cover 43 and thereby prevent access to thesteering gears therein except by re'moval of the collar 15 and sleeve 90carried thereby, which is prevented by the end nut 22. When the wheel isdisconnected, access to this nut is prevented as has already beenpointed out. i The sleeve 90 at the same time encloses the lower end ofthe, collar15 and sleeve 10 as well as the upwardly projecting hub-likeportion of the case 13 against tampering. The sleeve 90 may be omittedwhere there is no gear case cover removal of which must be prevented.when the lock is set.

I claim:

1. In combination, a steering gear, including a spindle member and wheelmember adapted for operative connection, a collar adapted for connectionwith one of said members, a sleeve adapted for connection with the otherof said members, a pair of tumbler members mounted in one of saidmembers and adapted for cooperation with the other to operativelyconnect the same, said tumbler members having opposed edgesforcooperation with an actuating member, and a tumbler actuating memberhaving cam arms movable between said edges.

2. In combination, a steering wheel, a member adapted for connectiontherewith, a steering shaft or spindle, a second member mounted uponsaid shaft or spindle and adapted for rotation relative said firstmember, tumbler means mounted in said first member for movement alongthe shaft to operatively connect said members, a raceway in said memberand a tumbler actuating cam mounted in said race-way for c0- operationwith said tumbler means.

3. In the combination defined in claim 1,

the tumbler members constituting diametrically opposite pins movable inthe direction of the axis of the shaft member and the tumbler actuatingmember encircling the shaft member between said shaft member and saidpins.

4. In combination, a steering gear including a shaft member and wheeladapted for operative connection, a collar adapted for connection withone of said members, a sleeve adapted for connection with the other ofsaid members, tumbler means mounted in one of said members and confinedbetween the sleeve and collar, said tumbler means being adapted forcooperation with the other of said members to operatively connect thesame, and a tumbler actuating member confined between the sleeve andcollar for actuating said tumbler means.

5. In combination, a steering gear including. a shaft member and wheelmember adapted for operative connection, a collar for connection withoneof said members, a sleeve for connection-with the other of said members,said sleeve having a flange closing off one end of said collar, a coverfor the opposite end of said sleeve and tumbler means mounted in thecollar and movable in the direction of the axis of the shaft member intoengagement with saidfiange to connect the wheel and shaft member and outof engagement with said flange and into engagement with said cover todisconnect the wheel and shaft member and prevent removal of the cover.

'6. In the combination defined in claim 5, the tumbler membersconstituting diametrically opposite pins and the tumbler actuatingmember encircling the shaft member between the shaft member and saidpins.

7. In combination, a tubular support, a rotatable steering post in saidsupport, a steering wheel for rotating said post, a cap mounted upon andclosing the upper end of said tubular support, connections between saidsteering Wheel and post held in place by said cap, enclosing means forsaid connections, and means secured against removal by said enclosingmeans for preventing removal of said cap.

8. In combination, a steering post having a shaft member, a steeringwheel, connecting gearing therebetween, a casing for said gearing, acover for said casing, said cover having an upwardly extending hub aboutthe shaft member, a sleeve member mounted upon the shaft member andsupported by said hub, a casing member about said sleeve, said sleevehaving means closing the lower end of said casing member, means forclosing the upper end of said member and means withinsaid member andbetween said closing means for connecting and disconnecting the wheeland shaft member.

9. In combination, a steering post having a shaft member, a steeringwheel, connecting gearing therebetween, a casing for said gearing, acover for said casing, said cover having an upwardly extending hub aboutthe shaft member, a sleeve member mounted upon the shaft member andsupported by said hub, a casing member about said sleeve,

said sleeve having means closing the lower end of said casing member,means w1th1n said casing member for connecting and dis- 10 connectingthe wheel and shaft member, and a sleeve member pressed on said casingmember and extending down over said cover to prevent removal thereof andaccess to said closing means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6 day of December,1921.

EMIL A. OHRISTOPH.

